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15" vs 18" subwoofer - which to buy?

If price and room space/aesthetics were not a big issue, is there any reason to get a 15" subwoofer over an 18" one? My main issue is not disturbing the neighbors too much. I'm confused about the difference between a 15" and 18" subwoofer. I want to get the best sound quality possible for low-to-medium volume use.

I've heard that an 18" subwoofer can be played at low decibels and provide good bass resolution and fullness of sound, while to achieve the same volume with a 15" subwoofer, the power has to be much higher. So for any given sound volume, the main difference is in distortion- and higher distortion sound may be more obtrusive. Is this true? it seems counterintuitive that an 18" subwoofer could be better for neighbors than a 15" subwoofer.

However, I compared a B&W800 (12") vs B&W850 (15"). I listened from the other side of the store wall (not as thick as my apt), and at minimum levels which I found satisfying for HT, I found the 12" more obvious and 'boomy' sounding while the 18" produced a more subtle (though actually more powerful), lower frequency vibration, like a very low-level rumbling background earthquake. The 15" subwoofer did seem more of a disturbance because of it's 'obvious' sound. However, I worry that an 18" won't even start producing quality sound until a certain volume that was much higher than a 15", and consequently potentially more disruptive for neighbors. Is this true? What is the relationship between subwoofer size, low sound volume, and subjective listening experience?

Unfortunately, it will be difficult to get an opportunity to hear both the DD-15 and DD-18 which I am considering, so I hope someone can help out here.
no_slouch
gregm
3,405 posts
 
El -- OK, I'm in for your centre SW. Driven left+right into one.

I would raise the added drivers called a SW -- to two, open baffle. What do you say?
glai's avatar
glai
446 posts
 
I am interested in getting DD12. DO you guys use the speaker level or the line level input? And if using line input, is there benefit in using the line output back to the amp? ( increase dynamics vs lost in trnasparency)

Thanks
pressure
2 posts
 
If you want to hear a musical sub, give a listen to the Bag End Infra-Sub 18. I've heard and owned many subs including NHT Sub Two[stereo pair] with four 10", and Vandersteen with three 8", B&K 15", A stereo pair of Onkyo THX from a $3000.00 speaker system[CRAP] and for 2 channel nothing comes close!!! Although its protection circuitry will shut it down if played loud for any length of time but I’m talking 115 db of dense bass
truthseeker
22 posts
 
My gosh, I had to buy TWO gas masks for all the BS I smell in this thread. Talk of stereo bass, need for numerous 18" subs, small Velodynes as toys. The word NEWBIE is written all over this thread. For the umteenth time, it really boils down to just a VERY few things;

What size is your room?
How loud do you like to listen ON AVERAGE?
*if I asked most of you, you would have no clue (we're talking spl's here).
Is the sub capable of low distortion output?

That's all you need to know...period.

Will a larger DD-18 be able to play as well as a 15,12,10 etc. at lower levels? Duh: Of course. Will those other subs have the same low frequency extension as the 18"? Of course not.

As a general rule..according to Velodyne;

2 DD-10's will have slightly more output than a single DD-12, but also slightly less extension. (this extension thing can get a bit complex to explain)
2 DD-12's will have slightly more output than a single DD-15, but with less extension.
2 DD-15's will have slightly more output than a single DD-18, but with less extension.

As for the use of dual subs, there's really only one reason to do this, and that's usually because there's not enough output from a single. And actually, it almost always makes more sense to just get the next size up in subs. I had a DD-10 in my 3500 ft³ condo living room and it did just fine for both music AND movies. No, the low end did NOT have the impact that an 18" would, but damned well did just fine for living in a condo.
I recently moved up to a DD-12, and I couldn't wish nor ask for more. It produces MORE than enough ground shake and special effects for my needs...and I'm an experienced listener.

Like I said, it all depends on how loud you listen to your material. Most folks on these forums (and even folks from Velo) will convince you that you need massive amounts of subwoofing power, but once you get over the initial goofing around/testing it out/demos for your buddies, I guarantee you that you will very likely just "SET IT AND FORGET IT". Trust me, if you're making the most out of dual 18" subs in even a LARGE living room, you're probably doing damage to your hearing with your main speakers.

My buddy has had both a DD-15 and a DD-18 in his 4000 ft³ space and although he's kept the DD-18, he acknowledges that the DD-15 was MORE than enough for his room. He just happens to be the type of guy that needs to have the biggest, baddest, toy of ANY kind. Perhaps he's compensating for something else? :)

The smartest thing that any potential buyer can do is borrow any sub he's interested in and take it hope and play with it a little. Properly calibrate it to your mains and listen to all kinds of material, from music to HT. I'd be shocked if anybody in a 4000 ft³ space absolutely feels the need for 2 DD-18's, much less one. If I could tolerate the size, I know for a fact that a DD-15 would be the max I'd ever desire for MY room, but with my DD-12, I don't even feel the need for that. Then again, I don't listen to loud organ music.

truthseeker
22 posts
 
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the some folks use two subs in order to attempt to smooth out some of the peaks and nulls in the listening environment. Takes lots of time, practice, and measuring equipment to accomplish this effectively.
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